Online Reporter
Midlands Bureau
THE Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Midlands Province Owen Ncube has led the provincial clean-up for May at Mkoba 6 shopping centre, Gweru.
The clean – up was held following the national clean-up declaration by President Mnangagwa, that set every 1st Friday of each calendar month as a National Clean-up Day.
Addressing residents,government officials, Gweru City Council employees and management, Minister Ncube said the clean-up is not just about picking up litter, but a critical step in the broader Zero Waste movement, which seeks to transform waste into value while protecting the environment for future generations.
“In urban areas, dumping of waste in storm drains perennially causes street and residential flooding, disease outbreaks, damage to property, roads, and other infrastructure,” he said.
Accordingly, Minister Ncube said the Second Republic is seized with accelerating the establishment of waste buy-back centres, which are economic enablers, environmental protectors, and community empowerment hubs.
“By recovering recyclable materials such as plastics, paper, and metals, we create jobs for waste pickers and entrepreneurs, reduce pollution, and promote a circular economy where waste becomes a resource and not a burden,” he said.
Minister Ncube urged businesses, local authorities and organizations to embrace innovative solutions to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of waste recovery efforts.
He said modern technologies in waste sorting, processing, and tracking can significantly improve their operations.
“To this end, allow me, ladies and gentlemen, to commend the Second Republic for spearheading tangible environmentally friendly programmes and projects that include the highly successful Geo-Pomona Waste Management Project in Harare, development of standard landfill sites, employment of litter monitors, and procurement of refuse compaction trucks by local authorities under the Devolution programme, ” he said.
Minister Ncube implored local authorities to strengthen partnerships with the corporate world to enhance service delivery, including waste management, as the country moves towards attainment of an upper-middle-income society earlier than 2030.
“The Mkoba 6 Shopping Centre business community should work closely with the City of Gweru to ensure this centre is kept clean through establishment of a waste management committee to coordinate waste management issues and assist in monitoring and enforcing environmental regulations that support President Mnangagwa’s policy direction on creating a clean, safe, and healthy environment for our communities, ” he said.
Minister Ncube urged local authorities in the province to respond to community needs through actioning President Mnangagwa’s Call to Action blueprint on improved service delivery by attending to provision of vending sites, grass cutting, refuse collection, sewer, and water reticulation.
